A study completed by Argonne National Laboratory, Fuel-Cycle Fossil Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Fuel Ethanol Produced from U.S. Midwest Corn, found that corn-based ethanol results in 35 to 46 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and 50 to 60 percent reductions in fossil energy use.

The study, which looked at the full fuel-cycle of corn to ethanol production, including corn farming, ethanol production, ethanol transportation and distribution, and ethanol combustion in vehicles, found that the use of ethanol blends and E85 achieves net energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. "What this means for the agriculture community, ethanol producers, environmentalists, and policy makers is that ethanol fuel deserves a major role in any global climate change strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector," said Governor Jim Edgar. For a copy of the report, contact Dave Loos at 217-785-3969.